NORTHWICH Cricket Club head coach Simon James is urging the community to come down and help them get ready for the new season.

The 14th annual NatWest CricketForce will take place between March 27 and 29, with this year promising to be another blockbuster event with more than 2,000 clubs registered to take part.

Members and volunteers will clean, tidy, repair and revitalise clubhouses and grounds across the country ahead of the new season.

And James, who is also treasurer, admits the NatWest CricketForce is an important event if the club are to hit the ground running in 2015.

“The NatWest CricketForce is huge for us because it really helps us get our ground ready for the new season and that is what we will be using it for again,” he said.

“It is always a great day to get people into the club to help out and make sure everything is spick and span ahead of the new season.

“We have on the NatWest CricketForce weekend each year and I think it’s a brilliant idea. In the past it has helped us bring in new junior players to our sides and we are hoping that happens again.

“It helps create a buzz around the place and hopefully we can carry that into the new season.”

The scheme is supported by former England captain and current ECB Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships Mike Gatting.

And Gatting, who played 79 Tests and 92 ODIs for England, is adamant this year’s Natwest CricketForce will benefit more than just the clubs themselves.

“I hope we’re helping the communities as well as the clubs,” he added.

“Kids want to go to clubs, and have fun with their mates in a safe area.

“It’s all about the community for cricket clubs, and in some places the clubs can stop kids from being out on the street and doing drugs, in gangs, and other terrible things.

“So these kind of schemes make a difference from that respect too, and it’s nice to think we can help kids move down a different path to all that.

“Cricket is one of those games where you make friends for life, build bridges, and learn a lot of life skills as well. That’s really important so local councils and communities acknowledging that it does make a difference and getting involved themselves is what it’s all about.”

NatWest CricketForce is an ECB project helping cricket clubs renovate and improve their facilities before each season with the help of members and their wider communities.

Find out when your local club event is and lend a hand at ecb.co.uk/nwcf